Vice-Premier Sun Chunlan met Finnish President Sauli Niinisto on Dec 4 in Helsinki during her visit to the closing of the China-Finland Year of Winter Sports.

Sun said the two countries have established a future-oriented new-type cooperative partnership, as their presidents paid visits to each other within two years. Following the leaders’ strategic guide and promotion, the countries’ cooperation in political, economic and cultural fields have prospered, she added.

Sun expressed gratitude to the Finnish people for their support of Chinese athletes undergoing skills training and competence improvements in Finland throughout the special year. At the same time, she hoped that the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing will become another chance for the countries to deepen cooperation in sports and ice and snow industry.

Next year will mark the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Finland, Sun said, adding that China is willing to implement significant consensus between the two leaders as well as the results from their visits, promoting progress in the bilateral relationship.

Niinisto said the two countries have maintained a traditional friendship and achieved significant cooperation. For example, both treat each other as equals and share similar views on climate change, North Pole exploration and international affairs, which provide grounds for further communication and coordination in joint combat against global challenges.

He added that Finland, with favorable winter sports resources, is willing to help the Beijing Winter Olympics. He also hoped that athletes from both countries score high in the upcoming winter games in Beijing.

On Dec 3, Sun attended the closing ceremony in Rovaniemi, northern Finland, along with the First Deputy Speaker of Finnish Parliament Tuula Haatainen. She also paid a special visit to the Chinese athletes who are training in Rovaniemi.